Operation restores sight for 47-year-old man who suffered a serious wound in his right eye 26 years ago in Lebanon.

The sight of a 47-year-old man who suffered a serious wound in the right eye in
Lebanon 26 years ago has been saved with a donated cornea transplanted at Kaplan
Medical Center in Rehovot.

The man, Nissim Nahum, said the pain and the
partial blindness made it difficult for him to function normally on a daily
basis, but that the surgery two weeks ago has already greatly improved his
quality of life. His ophthalmological surgeon, Dr. Guy Kleinman, said that the
donated transplant has not only eliminated his pains but begun to improve his
sight.

Nahum underwent the surgery in the hospital’s ophthalmology
department headed by Prof. Ayala Pollack. A synthetic lens was implanted and the
donated cornea was transplanted into the right eye, which had been damaged by
shrapnel from a hand grenade that a Hezbollah terrorist threw at him east of
Tyre. During the attack, a soldier was killed and several others were
wounded.

Over the years, the man – who lives in Moshav Nir Banim, near
Kiryat Gat – had undergone several procedures to save his eyesight, but
nevertheless, his vision continued to decline, and his pain
intensified.

He even developed edema in the eye, which blinded him on the
right side.

He recently went to consult with Kaplan eye specialists who
suggested that he apply for a donated cornea. Now, after the operation, he feels
wonderful.

Kleinman, head of the cataract surgery and a cornea surgeon,
said that over the course of 26 years, Nahum suffered from separation of the
retina that caused great harm to his vision as well as intense pain. Although
the surgery was very successful, he will have to undergo intensive
rehabilitation until he can see normally in the right eye, he
added.

About 800 Israelis are waiting for a donated cornea. The Kaplan
ophthalmologists called on the public to sign ADI (Israel Transplant) cards
(which can be obtained by calling *6262) to become potential donors and save
vision.